Case Number 17364

FACING THE GIANTS (BLU-RAY)

The Charge

Never give up. Never back down. Never lose faith.

Opening Statement

This is the third of Alex Kendrick's films that I've reviewed for DVD
Verdict, and I feel like I'm about to repeat myself. I'm going to level the same
faint praise and the same condemnations that I did for both Flywheel and
Fireproof. And I'm doing all of this realizing that this review will be
read by devout Christians that think this film is a godsend and by unbelievers
who will put it back on the shelf the moment they realize what it is.

Facts of the Case

Grant Taylor (director Alex Kendrick) has been the coach of the Shiloh Eagles
for a few years. These have not been great years of football, and now he feels
like things are slipping out of control. He has a team of weak players (all
named after Old Testament characters), a crappy car, and a wife that wants to
get pregnant but can't. When he discovers that his job is in danger, he buckles
down and turns to God. This sudden burst of faith changes everything.

The Evidence

The biggest complaint I have with Facing the Giants is its unrelenting
predictability. If you have seen a handful of sports movies before, you will be
able to see each twist and turn in the road before it arrives. Of course, that's
not hard to do when the road is so straight and even. The team keeps losing
until Coach Taylor finds God. Then they win almost consistently through the rest
of the film. Yawn. If the football sequences had been filmed better this might
be tolerable, but it's really only possible to know what's happening from the
reactions of the characters.

Much more disconcerting is the message behind the plot. This film promises
that with a bit of faith and prayer, God will deliver everything on a silver
platter. Football skills, new cars, vanishing money problems, infertility...life
with God is easy as pie. There are many people that do not realize their dreams,
often not for a lack of trying and sometimes not for a lack of faith. The
reality? This is a film targeted at Christian families, especially at children
who will eat up the promise that faith will give them the world. Ten years from
now, these kids will realize Facing the Giants was wrong. Even if you
believe that everything is possible with God, there's no guarantee that you'll
get what you want. Faith is easy when it all goes your way.

The Rebuttal Witnesses

If Kendrick can be relied on for anything, it's delivering predictable and
digestable entertainment. For those that can buy into the film's plot, dialogue,
and philosophy, it offers a couple hours of disposable but rousing
entertainment. Doubtless, youth groups all over America are being fed this
movie, and they could probably do worse. At least they won't be lost or
confused.

This is also a pretty solid release. The video transfer is excellent, though
a close look reveals the low budget of the film. Still, it's a clear upgrade
from the level of detail on DVD. The sound is about the same, though it never
stands out for a DolbyHD track. There are a number of special features,
including a commentary track, some bloopers, deleted scenes, and a couple
featurettes. Fans of the film will have lots to dig through here.

Closing Statement

Facing the Giants is probably the best of Alex Kendrick's films, but
it's the one that bothers me the most, both due to its predictable nature and
troublesome moral. I know this won't keep Christian families from using it as a
replacement for secular entertainment, but I hope these families will be
critical of the implications here. For everyone else, this is a good one to skip
-- there have been lots of better football films.